Wes Goldstein's Take

The Blackhawks will win if: They are willing to pay the price by doing the little things like blocking shots, finishing checks winning battles along the boards and in corners. The grit factor wasn't always there against Nashville, and that should be a concern for a team that is very good and knows it. Complacency endangered Chicago against Nashville, with the Blackhawks ultimately winning out because their talent was superior. In reality, though, they survived the Predators more than beating them, and chances are they won't get away with that again, especially if goaltender Antti Niemi isn't steadier throughout.

The Canucks will win if:Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin do what they did against Los Angeles, which is put up a lot of points, and Mikael Samuelsson keeps scoring the way he did. That won't be easy against a more talented team, though, so Vancouver will need its secondary scorers to contribute a lot more than they did against the Kings. The penalty kill will have to be a lot better than it was against Los Angeles, which connected on nine of its first 16 chances. Roberto Luongo will have to be on his game from the outset because Chicago is a tougher team to rebound against.

How They Got Here

Chicago: Defeated the Nashville Predators, 4-2, in the Western Conference Quarterfinals ... Finished the regular season with a 52-22-8 record for 112 points (1st, Central Division)

Vancouver: Defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 4-2, in the Western Conference Quarterfinals ... Finished the regular season with a 49-28-5 record for 103 points (1st, Northwest Division)

Samuelsson, who was never more than a third-liner as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, played like a superstar for the Canucks in this series. He began the series with goals in five straight games and currently leads playoff goal scorers with seven. His 11 points are second only to Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby . Even when held scoreless in Game 6, Samuelsson managed to notch a pair of assists.

On Target

• Wes Goldstein: Vancouver in 5: The Sedins and company are too much for a young team with a struggling goalie. • Erin Brown: Vancouver in 6: The Kings have the talent to compete, but youth will be their ultimate downfall. • Mike Hurcomb: Vancouver in 5: The Sedin twins will help make quick work of Kings.

Off the Mark

• Dennis Dodd: Los Angeles in 7: They've got a chance if Jonathan Quick can play like he did early in the season.

Washington leads, 3-2

Jaroslav Halak made 37 saves in his return to the net, Mike Cammalleri and Travis Moen scored on two of Montreal's first five shots, and the eighth-seeded Canadiens beat Alex Ovechkin 's Capitals 2-1 to extend their Eastern Conference matchup. Recap | Stats

Boston leads, 3-2

Buffalo built a three-goal lead on tallies by Adam Mair , Jason Pominville , and Mike Grier in the first 30 minutes and rebounded from a devastating loss, beating the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Friday to force a sixth game in the Eastern Conference first-round series. Recap | Stats

Detroit leads, 3-2

Jimmy Howard turned in another outstanding performance and Tomas Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk each had a goal and an assist as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 on Friday to take a 3-2 lead in the first-round Western Conference series. Recap | Stats

Vancouver leads, 3-2

Mikael Samuelsson scored twice and added an assist, and the Vancouver Canucks routed the Los Angeles Kings 7-2 on Friday night to grab a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference first-round playoff series. Recap | Stats

Mikael Samuelsson does not talk about what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. He shows how it is done.

Samuelsson scored his fifth goal of the playoffs Wednesday night, sparking a third-period comeback by the Vancouver Canucks in their 6-4 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings. The tally matched Samuelsson's career-high.

"I don't think I have to be that vocal -- that comes from the coach," Samuelsson told the Vancouver Province prior to the start of the series. "If they need me, maybe I'll do it but I've got to show by example."

Samuelsson has been the most consistent Canucks forward through four games, with goals in each contest as well as an assist in Game 3. He shares the league lead for goals with Washington's Nicklas Backstrom and Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg .

It is a complete reversal for the Swede, who won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. Samuelsson finished up last year's postseason with a 10-game goal drought.

The difference? The winger has played more prominent role Samuelsson plays in Vancouver's offense and he is letting his stick is do all the talking.

Buffalo lost its composure during a massive scrum late in the first period, and Miller made sure the fisticuffs didn't impact the final score. The Sabres goalie stopped 38 shots Thursday night -- 23 in the second period alone.

A Cup winner with Detroit, Samuelsson knows what it takes to win in the postseason, and showed his Canucks teammates Thursday night. The Swede contributed a tying goal in the second period and the game-winner in overtime.

The Vancouver penalty killing hasn't been great this season, and Alberts left his teammates shorthanded for a chunk of Game 1. The Kings scored on the power play resulting from his interference call. They tied the game on a 5-minute power play after Alberts was ejected for boarding.

Vancouver leads series, 1-0

Mikael Samuelsson scored his second goal 8:52 into overtime to give the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night in Game 1 of the first-round Western Conference series. Recap | Stats